What Is the Right Way to Apply Conditioner?

Maintaining a shiny, lustrous mane head of hair can make or break anything from a first date to your career. The trick to nailing swoon-worthy style starts with healthy hair, and conditioning is a big part of that process. We asked grooming expert Benjamin Thigpen what you should know about the product responsible for replenishing hair’s natural oils and moisture.

“It’s rare that I work with someone who uses conditioner the right way,” Thigpen says. “But when a client takes the time to condition, he definitely notices a sheen and feels the silkiness—and so will your partner.”

One common mistake guys make is lathering up the scalp, Thigpen says. Conditioner can actually clog the scalp's hair follicles and cause buildup. Instead, Thigpen recommends starting half an inch from the scalp and pulling the product to the ends. Leave the conditioner on for two to three minutes before rinsing. Also, the more active you are, the more frequently you’ll need to wash your hair. If you can help it, try washing every couple of days with a conditioning rinse ($19, kiehls.com). The soft formula won’t strip your hair of its natural oils, even when you’re washing it often.

The specific rules of conditioning depend on hair type. Here are the four most common types—and what conditioning routine is right for each.

Fine Hair

Thickening conditioners work to strengthen weak or brittle hair by depositing weightless moisture and shine into pockets where it may be missing.

If you’re a dude who’s constantly trying to tame an unruly mop, the right conditioner is imperative to getting the best from your tresses.

Although coarse hair tends to be naturally strong, keeping it nourished and hydrated is still a necessity for fighting fly-aways. Try Neutrogena’s fortifying conditioner ($16 for two, amazon.com) to mend split ends that come along with thick hair, while continuing to strengthen your strands and protect from further breakage.

Dry Hair

When dry and damaged hair is screaming for a little TLC, nutrient-enriched conditioner packed with botanicals and vitamins. We like Baxter of California’s moisturizing conditioner ($19, baxterofcalifornia.com). The vitamin-heavy formula pumps moisture into your strands to keep your hair shiny, not dull.

In addition to regular conditioning, a leave-in product is a great investment. A leave-in treatment, like this one from Bumble and bumble ($34, bumbleandbumble.com) can be applied every day and replenishes hair cuticles, renewing shine and sealing in moisture for all-day protection.

Oily Hair

Oily hair can be a pain, but preventing that greasy sheen around 3 p.m. may actually be as simple as washing hair a little less frequently.

If you’re washing your hair frequently (in an effort to rinse out that oil you see every day), you’re actually washing out your scalp’s natural oils. This causes your scalp to then overproduce those lost oils. Seek out conditioners with tea tree oil or menthol; these ingredients tend to remove excess oils without damaging the scalp. We like this shampoo-conditioner combo from Dove Men+ Care ($15 for two, amazon.com).

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